It's been a while, but I've been real busy so please forgive me, anyways.. I was going to post this a couple of days ago but read through and realized it sucked, and I forgot to put a poem in there. But I hope your happy with this chapter and I narrowed down 2 votes for his birthmark.

1. On his back between his dimples.

2. Upper right arm (Shoulder?)

Previously On The Silent Victim

I signed my name at the bottom of the paper, and closed my notebook. I laid down on sand and closed my eyes. I opened them after feeling something wet on my nose, I looked up and watched as the rain started falling. I closed my eyes again and this time I didn't see my parents, instead I saw Mikayla and the smile that I put on her face.

Chapter 6

I Will Always Love You

I woke up shivering and wet, then looked around realizing I wasn't at home. I racked my brain for any memory of how I got here, and remembered spending the evening with Mikayla at the beach, then someone coming and taking her away from me, then the rain. I got up and searched for my notebook hoping the tide didn't bring it into the ocean, it was the only thing that was helping me get past what happened.

I gave up looking after 10 minutes and decided I would just come in the morning, because it's probably sometime after midnight now and too dark to see anything. I noticed my sweater on the ground and remembered using it as a pillow last night. I walked towards it and picked it up as something fell from it; my notebook. I felt a little better having my notebook, but I couldn't stop thinking about Mikayla, and how she just walked away, is if nothing happened.

I headed home thinking it wouldn't be smart to stay out in the rain because I could get sick. As I was walking home the rain started getting worse and it became very windy. I wanted to run home, but my feet felt numb and my whole body was aching; looks like falling asleep in the rain isn't a good idea.

I walked towards a big tree and sat under it placing my notebook on the ground then putting my sweater on top of it. I felt my body shaking and decided just to get somewhere for shelter. I looked around and saw the castle again, it didn't seem too far and I maybe I could stay there until it stopped raining. I picked up my stuff and ran, not stopping once until I reached the castle.

When I got there the doors were already open so I stepped inside. I started climbing the stairs then realized that no one knows I'm here, and I could get in trouble if someone found out. I sat down on the stairs and sighed heavily, what has my life become?

I'm alone, my parents are gone, I have no real friends, I get bullied, I'm just so lost, confused, angry, sad, hurt, and scared... but mostly scared. I realize I'd have to support myself and I'm only 8. I want to laugh at how messed up my life's become, but I can't. I also can't see myself falling apart like most people would expect me too either, because there's someone keeping me together.

I look up and silently watch the steady falling of the rain, it reminded me of a time with my parents...

"Brady! I told you to stop jumping in that puddle and get inside!" Sarah Carlton shouted over the pouring rain, while holding an umbrella in one hand and motioning her son over with the other.

"But mommy! It's just so much fun! " Brady shouted back. Sarah Carlton sighed and shook her head while walking towards her son.

"Brady, what will it take for me to get you out of this rain and inside?" She asked softening.

"Hmm... I want you to jump in this puddle with me." He replied while a large smile appeared on his face.

"No way Brady, I'm sorry but that's not going to happen." She said.

"Fine. I'll just keep jumping in these puddles." He replied while jumping and landing in the puddle, water going everywhere, including on his mother.

"Brady!" His mother shouted. Brady frowned upon seeing his mothers disappointment but smiled when an idea came to mind.

"Sorry mommy, but look! Now you're already wet so you can jump in this puddle with me." He suggested while looking into her eyes. Realizing it wasn't going to work he pleaded. "Please."

His mother looked into his eyes and laughed softly. "I can't believe I'm doing this." She commented while closing her umbrella and placing it on the ground. Brady smiled softly and took his mother's hand.

"1." He said.

"2." She replied.

"3!" They both shouted then jumped as high as they could and landed into the puddle creating the biggest splash the young boy has ever seen.

"Whoa! Did you see how big that splash was mommy!?" He shouted. She laughed while nodding her head.

"I did sweetie, it was quite big." She replied. Brady frowned upon realizing this meant he now had to go home.

"Well, I guess a deal's a deal." He said while walking towards his house.

"Where are you going Brady?" His mother asked.

"You jumped in the puddle, so now I got to go home." He answered lowering his head.

"Or... we could keep jumping in puddle." She responded noticing her child's fallen expression. Brady's entire face lit up with excitement and joy.

"Really!?" He asked running towards his mother and into her arms.

"While like you said, we're already wet so what's the harm?" She responded smiling.

They spent the rest of the day jumping in puddles, not even stopping when questioned by his father, instead they simply invited him to jump with them, and he did.

Brady felt the tears streaming down his face and started sobbing quietly, he was angry at himself and all the other people who would take small moments like those for granted. He promised himself right then and there that he would never take anything or anyone for granted ever again, because now all he has is the memories. He promised that he would learn to appreciate the small things, no matter how small they are, because one day all the small things will turn into big things.

His sobs grew louder as the rain lessened and he heard footsteps behind him, his mind was telling him to run, but his frail body was telling him to stay put, that maybe they would just throw him in the dungeon, at least then he wouldn't have to worry about taking care of himself.

"Brady?" The angelic voice whispered. He turned and came face with the girl who invaded his dreams, the girl who kept him from giving up, the girl that he was sure he was in love with.

"Wh..why are you crying?" She asked as tears started streaming down her face. Why is she crying, I wondered. I began to think I did something to upset her, but her tears stopped falling.

"Please don't cry, you look so sad. I don't like it when you're sad because then I get sad." She pleaded while embracing me. I hugged her back and cried into her shoulder, I tightened my grip on her because I was so afraid of losing the only person I had left.

"Mikayla, what is the meaning of this?" A woman's voice whispered quietly. Mikayla let go of me and turned to the woman then embraced her in a hug.

"Queen Annabella." Mikayla said softly.

"You should be in bed Mikayla, what are you doing up?" She asked. I realized she didn't notice me and that this would be a good time to leave because not only did the rain lessen, but I could get in trouble for being here. I quietly gathered my things and began to walk down the stairs until I stopped, dropped my things and sneezed.

"I was sleeping, but I heard someone crying so I came to see who it was." Mikayla responded as she pointed in my direction.

I picked up my things and turned back towards the 2 girls and returned to my earlier spot. The woman, who I assume from listening is the queen took both mine and Mikayla's hand then brought us inside the castle and into a room. I looked around and noticed a big table and a lot of chairs, there was also a bowl of fruit on the table so I guessed this was the dining room, she turned on the lights and gestured for us to take a seat.

I slowly put my stuff on the desk then sat on one of the chairs next to the queen.

"Tell me child, why were you crying?" She asked, I simply looked down at my hands not being able to speak, but even if I was, I wouldn't know how to explain it.

"What's your name child?" She asked, as I raised my eyes to meet hers.

"His name is Brady." Mikayla answered for me, as my eyes never left the woman's. As soon as Mikayla said my name something flashed through the woman's eyes; hurt, sadness, and pain. My eyes didn't leave hers for the longest time. There was just something about this woman that was comforting, and safe. The woman turned from me to Mikayla.

"Mikayla honey, why don't you let him answer for himself?" She asked wearing a fake smile, I can spot the difference between a real and fake one, considering how many times I've put one on, I just don't know why she would be sad.

"But he can't Annabella." She said as the woman's gaze shifted from Mikayla to me, the sadness was replaced with confusion.

"Is that so?" She asked, while I nodded in response.

"Are you shy?" She asked as I felt a sense of déjà vu from the day when the teacher asked me the same question. I simply shook my head, as she studied me.

"Then what is it Br..Brady?" She stuttered, but quickly composed herself.

"He can't talk Anna." Mikayla stated. She studied me once more.

"And why's that?" The question was directed to Mikayla but the woman's eyes never left mine.

"I don't know, but he goes to the same school as Boomer, Boz and me. I brought him here one time, because we're doing this project where you have to get to know your partner and I was showing him where I lived, then I heard someone crying and found Brady sitting on the stairs looking really sad, so I was hugging him to feel better!" She explained as I sat there shocked of how fast she could talk.

The queen gently laughed, and for a second it reminded me of my mother's laugh; gentle. I felt another tear fall down my face and failed to wipe it away before the woman could see.

"I'll be right back, you stay here Mikayla and make sure he doesn't leave." She said before walking out of the room leaving me and Mikayla alone. Mikayla turned to me after a minute or 2 and opened her mouth to speak but closed it when the woman came back.

"How about you use this Brady." She handed me a piece of paper and a pencil, I looked at her with a confused expression before realizing she wanted to communicate with me.

"Now, this should be a lot easier. Why are you here Brady?" She questioned while I quickly wrote down 'rain' and handed her the paper.

"Well how come you didn't head home? I'm sure your parents are worrying about you." I looked into her eyes again and wanted to explain everything then and there, because she might help me but then I remembered that she's the queen which means her son would be the prince, and I know one of the princes is Boz, so what if she was just like him?

I wrote down 'they went on a trip' on the paper not having enough time to think of anything else. She read the paper then looked at me.

"They went on a trip and left you alone? They don't sound like good parent's if you ask me." She responded.

I looked at her shocked at how she could say something like that, I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs that my parents were everything to me; they took care of me when my other family abandoned me, they loved me with everything they had, they took care of me, fed me, clothed me, taught me everything I know, supported me, laughed with me, tucked me in at night, read me bedtime stories, chased all the monsters away, held me when I was scared, and never left my side when I was sick. They died fighting for me, what more could you ask for in parents?

I clenched my fist in anger and felt like breaking something. But shook it off and looked at the woman.

"Your free to stay here until your parents get back B..Brady." I didn't understand why she had so much trouble saying my name, but the thought was pushed to the back of my mind.

"Anna, can he stay in my room? We could have a sleepover!" She suggested excitedly. The queen looked at me then back at Mikayla.

"Only if he wants to Mikayla." She looked back at me while I shrugged. With that she smiled, wished us a goodnight then left. Mikayla left the room and I quickly grabbed my things then followed her. We got to her room then she went looking through her closet for something, I placed my things down then looked around and saw only one bed, where would I sleep?

Mikayla came back holding maybe 2 or 3 blankets in her hands, she placed them on the ground one on top of the other, the folded them all in half to make it smaller but thicker. She then went to her bed, grabbed a pillow then put it on the small bed she made.

"Here, you can sleep here right? This is okay right? Cause I could put another blanket or pillow or.." I interrupted her by putting my hand on her shoulder, smiling than nodding at her. She smiled back and I embraced her as my way of thanking her, and not just for giving me a place to sleep. She climbed into her bed and I laid down on the one she made for me.

"Goodnight Brady." I smiled to myself and turned on my side, then shut my eyes.

I was running through the woods when I tripped and fell over a root.

"Brady. You did this. You killed us. All because of what, you wanted to go for a walk. How could you?" My parents that were now covered in blood shouted at me.

'I'm sorry! I didn't know it would happen! I'm so sorry!' I tried saying, but nothing came out.

"You never even loved us. If you did why would you kill us?" They said as they disappeared into thin air but the outline of them covered in blood was still haunting me as I fell to my knees and buried my head in my hands and cried.

I shot up, looking around frantically for my parents. I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, rocking back and forth repeatedly.

'It's just a bad dream Brady, your parents could never hate you, you know that.'

'And how does he know that? He killed his parents, he never loved them.'

I shook my head begging these thoughts to go away, this is too much for me to handle, I got up and walked around the room before my eyes fell on Mikayla.

Her eyelids were closed and her breathing was deep and relaxed, all the muscles in her face and body were totally at peace. Not a twitch, not a spasm, no movement with the exception of her chest rising and falling with each intake of air. Her body was at peace, at rest, at one with itself. He couldn't deny it any longer, in fact he didn't want to deny it any longer; he was in love with her.

I walked back to my bed, grabbed my notebook and pencil, then walked over to her desk. I turned on the little lamp she had on her desk and opened to a new page in my notebook.

I Will Always Love You

I tell myself these feelings won't stay,
But I don't think they'll go away
Because if giving up was a choice
Then I definitely would,
But I can't control your strong voice
That's telling me I never should.
You're a work of art that I cherish with my heart
I love you with the soul that once was an empty hole
My love for you could never be more true
From now until forever I will always love you

I signed my name at the bottom then closed the notebook and hid it under my sweater so no one would find it. I took one last look at Mikayla before turning the lamp off. I walked over to the small bed, laid down and just stared at the ceiling while thoughts raced through my head.

Did you love it, did you? Well if you did leave a review, and if you didn't still leave a review. If some of you are like where was the BraKayla moment, you might not think so but the part on the steps was the BraKayla moment. It was like he realized he wasn't alone anymore, and as long as he had her he could make it through this.

Also I hope everyone caught the Brady and his biological mom part. And I know the poem like sucked or w\e but I realized it's been too long since I updated, so just wanted to put a new chapter up.